Charleston Silver Lady

Silver talks about you

Posted 5/14/20

Occasionally I see a silver object – be it a cup, trophy, charger, any number of forms – where I find the monogram or engraved sentiment to be a completely different age from the object in …

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Charleston Silver Lady

Silver talks about you

Posted

Occasionally I see a silver object – be it a cup, trophy, charger, any number of forms – where I find the monogram or engraved sentiment to be a completely different age from the object in question.
There are multiple reasons, the most pleasing being the passage of the piece from one generation to the next. 
I have my great grandmother’s silver wedding cake stand. It was crafted years before my grandmother was born. 
On the bottom of the tray, beginning in 1813, are names and dates encircling the border. I remember seeing them on the tray when we polished it when I was young. 
For years, nearly everyone who used the tray added their information to the bottom  It became an instant family heirloom to prove dates and associations. 
Each monogram is different. Some are hand engraved and a few appear to have some machine influence.  The 1st is my grandmother and grandfather Petrie- 1813, then her sister in 1831, a cousin in 1834 and on we go until the present.  
The tray sits in the center of a dining table. It is large, circular and functions as a plateau for an epergne from my Petrie grandparents. I sometimes think it was designed for this purpose yet the lack of a polished mirror surface makes that unlikely. 
When monograms are original, they are generally thematically the same as the object, as compelling in their execution and function as an extension of the object; not as a detraction from it.
Silver can be fraudulently presented in many ways. It is disheartening at times. 
Most of you who have taken a silver class with me know that I do not teach with marks or ask you to become a devotee of looking them up or using them as a guide in collecting.  Countless times I have seen marks, names, dates, alloys, deceptively employed to seemingly add extra value to a less than high style object.  
The only way to know for sure is to validate through period specific construction details. Otherwise you may be fooled.  
I have a collection of tiny metal marks I can use a hammer to strike into the appropriate spot on a silver object. One says ‘Paul Revere’, another ‘Tiffany.’ Need I go on?
Silver being passed through families is a southern tradition dating back to the beginning of our time in America. It is interesting that silver objects seems to  take on the identity of the original owner. The transfer of emotion is in some ways unique to silver and a great influence on whether it is treasured or despised, cared for or sold.
I ask you to use your silver pieces. For me, they have their greatest and highest use when they are used often. Now is the time to use your pieces as they were intended. 
I have some silver forks made in Charleston in 1813. They are coin silver, large and lovely in the olive pattern my grandparents preferred.  They are monogrammed front and back with their twined initials and the date Aug’ 1813; same as on the tray.
It is interesting to study the forks to see what they reveal.  2 of them are more heavily used than the other 7 and have 2 right tines nearly worn to an angle facing the other 2.  There are no documents to support the shame of being someone left handed in the family but here is the proof as the tines were worn down during daily use.
Back to reinvention, use your pieces every day if practical and logical for you.  The influences of the modern world have diminished allure when the value of what went before us is used as a comparison.
 

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